Is It Ever Okay To Be Judgmental?

You’ve probably been told it’s not okay to be judgmental, but the truth is, I’m a very judgmental person. I judge my clothing in the morning to see which tops and shoes will be the most appropriate for the weather. I judge my breakfast choices to pick the ones that will serve my body the best. Throughout the day, I judge different activities to decide the best way to spend my time, and different methods to determine which are most useful for the task at hand.

The truth is, everybody is judgmental, all day, every day.

You’re probably judging that statement right now.

Is it okay to be judgmental?

Bad things happen when we aren’t judgmental enough.

Being judgmental is not a bad thing. I would judge that the 16-year-old boy who steals road signs and burns donuts in the neighbor’s cornfield with his buddies was not judgmental enough. Neither was the 16-year-old girl who knew her peers bullied an underclassman, but didn’t stand up and say, “That’s wrong.” Bad things happen when we aren’t judgmental enough. People with power take advantage of the weak when no one judges their actions and calls them bad. Think about a sports figure who beats his wife.

Isn’t that wrong?

Now we’re being judgmental again.

Is it a sin to judge others?

What does Jesus say?

“Do not judge…”

Everyone loves to quote Jesus’ words from Mathew 7 when they’re being judged, but they forget there’s more. Four verses later, he adds:

“First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

No one likes to be told they’re wrong, but if you don’t call something sinful that is sinful, someone will get hurt.

In truth, the speck needs to come out of the eye because if it doesn’t, someone will get hurt. Jesus is talking about judging someone else’s sins. No one likes to be told they’re wrong, but if you don’t call something sinful that is sinful, someone will get hurt and possibly end up in hell. That’s kind of serious, right? (See my post Love or Hypocrisy: Should I Confront a Friend Who Sins?)

Only those who are closest to Jesus—Christians—know just how serious it is, and how important it is to call sin out. Hence the reason we are slapped with the label “judgmental.”

But there is a right way to judge people.

Do not judge…yet.

Let’s go back to the plank. The plank is your sin, something you are clinging to and trying to justify. 

“But my sin is different.”

“That’s not as bad as what she’s doing.” 

“At least I don’t have that sin in my life.”

Many roads lead to hell, and all are paved with unrepentant sin. So your sin, that little thing you consider trivial? It’s dangerous—and may cost you your eternal life. Don’t believe me? Check out No Fear: The Danger of Sin In Your Heart.

Jesus wants to evict all sin from your life. Not only because it separates you from God, but also because if you approach someone with a long plank of sin in your eye, he or she will trample you and trample God’s word.

• You can’t point out your brother’s potty mouth if you won’t work on your gossiping habit.
• If you call your dad out on his racist remarks, be prepared to be judged for flipping the bird to the driver who cut you off on your way home yesterday.
• And you can’t help a friend who is embracing her homosexual tendencies if you harbor a porn addiction.

Yank the plank out of your eye!

You be the judge.

If you judge in the manner that you would want to be judged, you will save two sinners from hell.

Fortunately, Jesus has offered forgiveness for all sins. That’s the beauty of saving grace. You don’t have to be perfect to approach someone who is living in sin. Just say, “You have a sin, and I have a sin, so let’s help each other out and work on it together.” Together, you can hold each other accountable and grow in God’s word. If you judge in the manner that you would want to be judged—with gentleness and humility—you will save two sinners from hell.

More on Judging Others & Speaking Out In Love

• Speak the Truth in Love: a How-to From the Garden
• Stop Judging Others By Appearances: She’s More Than a Body
• Being Critical of Others: The Thumbs-Down Phenomenon
• 8 Ways to Encourage Your Friends In Their Faith
• Help A Friend Who Struggles With Gender Identity